Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

John 4:13,14

Jesus in reply, though He does not quite break through the veil of figure, leads her on to think of a more satisfying gift than even Jacob had given in this well. πᾶς ὁ πίνων … ζωὴν αἰώνιον. He contrasts the water of the well with the water He can give; and the two characteristic qualities of His living water are suggested by this contrast. The water of Jacob's well had two defects: it quenched thirst only for a time, and it lay outside the town a weary distance, and subject to various accidents. Christ offers water which will quench thirst lastingly, and which will be “in” the person drinking, ἐν αὐτῷ πηγὴ ὕδατος ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. For this figure put to another though similar use, see Marcus Aurelius, vii. 59, and viii. 51, with Gataker's notes. The living water lastingly quenches human cravings and is within the man, inseparable from him, and always energetically and afresh shooting up.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

John 4:13,14

Old Testament

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